Automatic carrier.



M. H. GAWLEY.- AUTOMATIG' CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED JULY12, 1910.

"Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 sums-sum 1.

ATTORNEYS SHINGTON. n. c-

M. H. GAWLEY. AUTOMATIC CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1910.-

977,929. Patented Dec.6,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V E /V TUB Marta/21V. fad/lay ATTORNEYS 1n: upRsls PETERS 50.,WASHINGTON, n. c

MARTIN HUBERT CAWLEY, 0F EPWORTH, NORTH DAKOTA.

AUTOMATIC CARRIER.

emcee.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN H. CAWLEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Epworth, in the county of Montraille and State ofNorth Dakota, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Carrier, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact de- 7 from the source ofpower; and to provide a side chutes or other ramifications.

construction which is simple, economical and durable. I

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like charactors ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly is section and fragmentary in form,of a carrier and hoisting devices connected therewith, constructed andarranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view, on anenlarged scale and in vertical section, showing the bob for suspendingthe load when the operating cable is held in locked position on thehoisting devices;'Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a carrier systemconstructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, andshowing in connection therewith a hoisting carrier; Fig. 5 is a detailview, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, showing the carryingshield and locking bolt therefor, and the releasing dogs and stopsdisposed at the end of the tracks forming the carrier system; and Fig. 6is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the shield and the locking bolttherefor in locked position.

The system for which the present invention is intended employs a seriesof carrying tracks 11, 11, which may have many switc lli tlels,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application-filed July 12, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 571,629.

tracks 11, 11 are suspended from the ceiling structure of the buildingby hangers 12, 12. On the tracks 11, 11 are mounted one or more trucks,which trucks inthe present instance are provided with carrying wheels13, 13 joined by side bars 14, 14 which form independent advance andfollowing trucks pivotally mounted at 15, 15 to depending body frames16, 16. In the present instance the frames 16 are disposed at the sideof the tracks 11, the trucks formed by the side bars 14 and wheels 13being projected from the sides of the said frames.

7 Attached to the lower sides of the frames 16 is a collar 17, on theinner side whereof is formed an annular groove to receive the extendedflange 18 of a swivel head 19. The head 19 is circular in form, and isrigidly connected with the cheek pieces 20, 20 of the casing for thepulleys 21, 21. The pulleys 21, 21 are supported on independenttrunnions 22, 22, mounted in bearings formed in the cheek pieces 20, 20and in a dividing par tition 23. The pulleys 21,21 are arrangedsubstantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to carry a cable 24,which is reeved over the said pulleys, and one strand whereof isanchored at the looped end 25 to an eye let 26 formed on the lowerpulley block 27, if the same is constructed as shown in Fig. 1, or upona loop 28 if constructed as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In eithercase the block 27 or loop 28 is provided with a hoisting hook 29.

In operating the present system the single cable 24 is used, and this isconnected at the free end to a winding drum provided on the engineoperating the system. It will be understood that the head 19, swivelingas it does in the collar 17 formed on the frames 16, permits the cheekpieces 20, 20 to rotate in alinement with the power source in variousdispositions or arrangement of the carrier frames 16 and the wheels 13,13 thereof.

The cable 24 is employed for elevating or lowering the load to becarried on the wheels 13, 13. For this purpose it is necessary to lockthe carriage in position on the track, else the draw of the cable in thehorizontal direction would cause the carriage to travel over the saidtrack. The carriage is locked by a yoke 30, between the upwardlyextended arms 31, 31 whereof is mounted a cross shaft 32, on which isrotatively mounted a roller 33. The yoke 30 is provided at the lowerend, and extended from the lower bar thereof, with a bolt 34. The bolt34 is loosely extended through the head 19 and normally rests upon thetop of the extended flange 35 of a shield 36 disposed about one of thepulleys 21, and rotatively mounted on the trunnions 22 of the saidpulley. The flange 35 is provided at a certain point with a recess orpocket 37, into which the lower end of the bolt 34 drops when alinedtherewith. In the raised position of the bolt 34 and yoke 30, the shaft32 and roller 33 carried thereby rest in the path of a stop plate 38.The stop plate 38 is rigidly secured at 39, 39 by rivets or othersuitable fastening devices to the track 11, and at the outer extremitythereof. The plat-e 38 is a permanent and fixed attachment to the track11. It will be seen that when the yoke is raised, the end of the bolt 34resting upon the solid upper surface of the flange 35, the plate 38forms a positive detent for retaining the carriage in the stationaryposition on the track 11. It is to release the carriage by permittingthe yoke 30 to drop from engagement with the plate 38 that I haveprovided the bob 40. The bob 40 is a hollow metal ball, the ball havingat the upper end a per foration 41 and at the lower end a perform tion42. The perforations 41 and 42 are alined, and have an area sufficientto pass the cable 24. Pivotally mounted within the bob 40, and on ashaft 43, is a gripping jaw 44. The gripping jaw 44 is provided with aface having serrations 45 adapted to bite into the body of the cable 24when moved into contact therewith. Itis to move the jaw 44 in contactwith the cable 24 that I have pro vided the set screw 46. lVhen the setscrew 46 is turned to advance it impinges upon the jaw 44 to force thesame into engagement with the cable 24. The jaw 44 is disposed in theupwardly extended position, and the serrations 45 in the face thereofare so arranged that the weight pulling downward on the cable 24 has atendency to cause the said serrations to the more firmly grip the saidcable.- It will be understood that the bob 40 is adjustable on the saidcable, so that the height at which the load shall be lifted from thefloor or truck before the carriage is released to travel on the track11, may be regulated and varied at will.

The bob 40 is placed upon the vertically disposed strand of the cable 24which is directly in line with and passes within the shield formed onone of the pulleys 21. hen the cable is thus provided with the bob 40,and is drawn upon from the source of power, the strand of cable risesand the bob 40 in time impinges upon the open end 47 of the said shieldand rotates the said shield backward until the perforation 37 in thesaid shield is alined with the bolt 34, and permits the same to droptherein. It will be seen that with the dropping of the bolt 34, and theyoke carried thereby, the shaft 32 and roller 33 are carried out ofengagement with the plate 38 and the carrier is at liberty to travelover the said track 11. A continued pull on the cable 24 from the sourceof power results in the carrier, with its suspended. load, travelingover the track under the control and management of the operator of thesource of power. The shield 36 is now locked in position againstrotation. The shield is provided with hooks 48, 48, which are disposedwith reference to the end 47 of the said shield substantially as shownin Figs. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The hooks 48 are further arrangedto ex tend horizontally, or in position to enfold the cable 24 under thebob 40 when the bolt 34 of the yoke 30 is held in the recess 37 in theflange 35 of the shield 36. When now the cable 24 is slackened betweenthe carrier and the source of power, the bob 40 settles back to restupon the hooks 48, 48. The

shield 36 being maintained by the bolt 34 I from rotating, the said bob4O andthe. load carried on the cable 24 are supported from the hooks 48,48.

At intervals on the track 11 are provided pivotally mounted stop plates49, 49. The plates 49, 49 are pivoted at '50, 50 and are each providedwith a forwardly extended nose 51 and an upwardly extended lever armExtended from the side of the track 11, and disposed between the saidnose 51 and lever 52, is a stop pin 53, provided to limit the movementof the plate .49 by the impingement thereon alternately of the nose 51and the lever arm 52. To the lever arms 52 are connected operating lines54, 54, which are reeved over guide pulleys 55, 55 mounted on theextended ends of brackets 56, 56, said brackets being rigidly secured tothe hangers 12, 12 by plates 57, 57.

The operation of a conveyor system and a hoisting carrier constructedand arranged as above described, and when provided with the pivoted stopplates 49, 49, the stationary plate 38 and a stationary dog 58, is asfollows: Assuming that the apparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 4of the drawings, wherein the cable 24 has been slacked away to lower thehook 29 to receive a load, and that the load has been secured to thesaid hook, the load is then raised by drawing.

upon the cable 24. lVhile thus drawing upon the cable 24 the carrier isheld stationary on the track 11 by the plate 38 blocking the way of theshaft 32 and roller 33 mounted thereon of the yoke 30, and this byreason of the fact that the bolt 34rests upon the solid surface of theflange 35 of the shield 36. hen the cable 24 has been drawn uponsutiiciently to raise the bob 40 to impinge upon the end 47 of theshield 36, the further movement of the cable 24 results in the rotationof the shield 36, which carries the recess 37 into alinement with thebolt 34. As above described, in this engagement of the bolt 34 and therecess 37, the bolt drops into the said recess and the carriage is atliberty to answer the pull of the cable 24 to travel along the track 11.In this position of the shield it will be noticed that the bob 40 isdisposed in position on the said shield to rest upon the hooks 48thereof should the cable 24 be slackened. If it be desired to lower theload at any intermediate station, such as that formed by the dispositionof one of the plates 49, then the line 54 connected with the plate 49 isreleased from its fastenings (which are conveniently dis posed on thebuilding structure) and the plate 49 dropped so that the nose 51 of thesaid plate is disposed in the path of the shaft 32 and roller 33 carriedthereby, and to pass under the same. The nose 51 is disposed andinclined so that when the said shaft and roller are forced over the samethe yoke 30 and bolt 34 connected therewith are lifted out of engagementwith the recess 37 in the shield 36. In this position the shield 36rotates until the bob 40 is freed from engagement with the hooks 48,when the slacking of the cable 24 will result in the lowering of theload to the floor or waiting truck. hen the load is thus deposited itmay be desired to remove only part of the load, or from that stationreload on the hook 29, and at this station lift the load until the bob40 rotates the shield 36 to present the hooks 48 in carrying relation tothe said bob 40 and the load on the cable. To do this it is necessary toretract the carriage until the shaft 32 and roller 33 carried thereonpasses out of engagement with the nose 51. \Vhen this is accomplishedthe operator draws upon the line 54, which results in raising the lever52 and the nose 51 out of the path of the shaft 32 and roller 33, butpresents the plate 49 in the path of the said shaftand roller as thesame are raised, by reason of the bolt 34 resting on the outer surfaceof the flange 35. lVhen now the cable 24 is drawn upon, the carriage ismoved slightly until the shaft 32 and roller 33 impinge upon the plate49 to hold the carriage stationary while the cable 24 operates to liftthe load and the bob 40 mounted on the said cable until the bob 40,impinging upon the end 47 of the shield 36, moves the said shield topermit the bolt 34 to drop into the recess 37 thereof, when again thecarriage is released froin stationary engagement with the track 11, andis free to proceed on its j ourney.

The above described operation may be repeated any number of times untilthe carriage is completely unloaded.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic carrier, comprising acarrier track system; a wheel supported truck having a depending frame;a hoisting mech anism suspended from said frame embodying a hoistingcable; a bolt vertically mounted in guides in said frame; a plurality ofmovable stop plates mounted upon said. track and extensible therefrom;means for removing said stop plates from the path of said bolt; and awheel infolding in guiding relation the said cable, said wheel having arecess formed in the periphery thereof to receive said bolt in loweredposition.

2. An automatic carrier, comprising a carrier track system; a wheelsupported truck having a depending frame; a hoisting mechanism suspendedfrom said frame embodying a hoisting cable ;a bolt vertically mounted inguides in said frame; a plurality of movable stop plates mounted uponsaid track and extensible therefrom; means for removing said stop platesfrom the path of said bolt; and a wheel infolding in guiding relationsaid cable; said wheel having a rccess formed in the periphery thereofto receive said bolt in lowered position, and said wheel having asupporting arm to hold the said cable in hoisted position.

3. An automatic carrier, comprising a carrier track system; a wheelsupported truck having a depending frame; a hoisting mechanism suspendedfrom said frame embodying a hoisting cable; a bolt vertically mounted inguides in said frame, said bolt having at the end adjacent to the saidtrack a horizontally disposed member whereby the said bolt may belifted; a permanent releasing member mounted on said track and extendedtherefrom to form an inclined surface, said member being extended intoand below 5 the path of said horizontally disposed member; and means forremoving the said re leasing member from the path of said horizontallydisposed member.

' 4. An automatic carrier, comprising a car- 10 rier track system; awheel supported truck having a depending frame; a hoisting mechanismsuspended from said frame embodying a hoisting cable; a bolt verticallymounted in guides in said frame, said bolt having at the end adjacent tothe said track a horizontally disposedmember whereby the said bolt maybe lifted; a wheel rotatively mounted on said frame to hold the saidbolt in engagement with the said track, said wheel having a recessformed in the periphery thereof to receive said bolt in loweredposition; a plurality of operating plates pivotally mounted on saidtrack and having a drop plate arranged to rest in the path of saidhorizontally disposed member when the same is supported on said wheel,and said plates having an extension arranged to extend under and in thepath of said horizontally disposed member to lift the same; a pluralityof releasing members pivotally mounted upon the said track and extendedtherefrom to form inclined surfaces, said members being extended intoand below said horizontally disposed member; and means for removing thesaid releasing members from the path of said horizontally disposedmember.

5. An automatic carrier, comprising a carrier track system; a wheelsupported truck having a depending frame; a hoisting mechanism suspendedfrom said frame embodying a hoisting cable; a bolt vertically mounted inguides in said frame, said bolt having at the end adjacent the saidtrack a horizontally disposed member whereby the said bolt may belifted; a permanent releasing member mounted on said track and extendedtherefrom to form an inclined surface, said member being extended intoand below the being arranged in the path of the said horizontallydisposed member on said bolt when the said bolt and horizontal memberare lifted in position to release the said hoisting mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. V Y

MARTIN HUBERT oAWLEY.

itnesses D. H. NELSON, H. A. SoHMrrz.

